KALAMAZOO—A Western Michigan University instructor and noted poet and author will launch the spring 2013 Gwen Frostic Reading Series Thursday, Jan. 31.

Jay Baron Nicorvo will read after the recent release of his debut poetry collection, "Deadbeat," which was published by Four Way Books. Nicorvo will read from it and his other works at 8 p.m. in 208-209 Bernhard Center.

Nicorvo's poetry, fiction, nonfiction and criticism have appeared in The Literary Review, Guernica, The Iowa Review and The Believer. He's served on editorial staffs at Ploughshares and at PEN America, the literary magazine of the PEN American Center, and worked for the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses.

In addition to his teaching duties at WMU, Nicorvo is faculty advisor to the University's literary journal, Third Coast. He lives on an old farm outside Battle Creek with his wife, Thisbe Nissen and their son. More information about him is available at www.nicorvo.net.